The Puffer Forum

One of the local chain pet stores has a single tiny little Dwarf Puffer, although he's labeled as a Pea Puffer. I'd like to snap him up before his larger tank mates do (he's got a few MUCH larger platty companions) :p .

I have a 5 gallon that I started to set up tonight, but I don't have access to Bio-Spira locally, and having it shipped isn't really an option. Fishless-cycling will take a little while (even with seeded media), and I only have one 10 gallon freshwater tank available.

The 10 gallon currently houses over a dozen of my girlfriends platties, which are breeding like crazy. The majority are young fry about half or equal the size of the dwarf puffer, and about 5 or 6 larger adolescents and adults.

Now my questions:

1. Will seeded media be able to handle the little guys bioload until the 5 gallon can completely cycle on its own, or will I have to wait until the fishless-cycle completes?

2. If I can't pop him into the 5 gallon immediately, do you think he'd be ok in the 10 gallon with the platties until his new home is cycled? He is with Platties at the store now, so... This can't be any worse.. can it?

3. Another option is to setup a spare 2.5 gallon with the seeded media until the 5 gallon cycles.

Please advise...

I'd like to get him out of the store asap. They don't know jack about puffers, and don't seem to want to learn. They've got 3 juvenile starving GSPs with feeder fish (normally there are about a dozen in the same tank), and about 20 or so Figure-eights who look like hamburger. Fungus stumps where fins used to be. I'll stop there before I start to rant.

Thanks in advance...

I would purchase a floating net type breeder holder that is normally used for keeping the babies out of the bigger fished mouths, and accl8imate him to the 10 gallon for now. leave him in the breeder net, or buy a divider and section him off a small area. while you are doing that keep the 5 gallon going and when its ready for fish move him on over.

good job on coming up with a plan before hes home in a bag. LOL

I would never recommend bringing a fish home from an LFS and dropping it into an established tank without at least a three-week QT period.

In this case, I'd use filter media and maybe substrate from the 10G as seed material for the 5G, then do frequent water changes and monitor water conditions closely for the next few weeks. There is no benefit to using the 2.5G over the 5G. In fact, larger is better if you have to use an uncycled tank as the waste will be more diluted.

Finally, you stated several reasons why this LFS should not be stocking and selling puffers. You do realize that by rescuing the DP, you are actually encouraging the LFS to purchase more of them?

ouch ybe hit that last part on the head. while saving a puffer is a good idea, the LFS sees the bottom line not the fish so generally saving fish from a bad LFS does encourage them to buy more and to stay open too.

gotta stop posting at 4 am...... or just gotta stop staying up... eh thats what the edit button is for right

ybenormal wrote:I would never recommend bringing a fish home from an LFS and dropping it into an established tank without at least a three-week QT period.

In this case, I'd use filter media and maybe substrate from the 10G as seed material for the 5G, then do frequent water changes and monitor water conditions closely for the next few weeks. There is no benefit to using the 2.5G over the 5G. In fact, larger is better if you have to use an uncycled tank as the waste will be more diluted.

Finally, you stated several reasons why this LFS should not be stocking and selling puffers. You do realize that by rescuing the DP, you are actually encouraging the LFS to purchase more of them?

Best plan IMO

I was leery of just dropping him into 10 gallon without a QT period, but without a cycled QT tank on hand atm... The net idea is a good one I'll have to file away for emergencies.

I know buying the little guy will only encourage them, but it's either me, or someone else. And I'd rather have him all to myself!

I've also complained about the conditions they are kept in every time I go there, and ask my friends and family to do the same. Hopefully they will eventually realize it's an issue and give them a larger tank with proper care.

They are a decent store really. One of the best in town and the only ones that carry puffers with any regularity. They do a good job with all the other fish, it's just the puffers that they recently started carrying that they need to improve upon.

The dwarf itself is actually very healthy looking, and unfortunately, is probably the only puffer they should be carrying until they can get better accommodations for the F8s and gsps.

But I digress.

I guess I was leaning towards using the 2 gallon while I quickly completely cycle the 5 gallon with ammonia. I figured a week of frequent water changes in the 2 gallon would be better than 3 or 4 in the 5 gallon waiting for it to cycle on it's own.

But if the consensus is to just use the 5 gallon with seeded media, then that's what I'll do. God I wish I could get bio-spira around here.

It sure is hard to choose between the lesser of 3 evils... Thanks for your replies.

ybenormal wrote:I would never recommend bringing a fish home from an LFS and dropping it into an established tank without at least a three-week QT period.

In this case, I'd use filter media and maybe substrate from the 10G as seed material for the 5G, then do frequent water changes and monitor water conditions closely for the next few weeks. There is no benefit to using the 2.5G over the 5G. In fact, larger is better if you have to use an uncycled tank as the waste will be more diluted.

Finally, you stated several reasons why this LFS should not be stocking and selling puffers. You do realize that by rescuing the DP, you are actually encouraging the LFS to purchase more of them?

Excellent response and I completely agree!

Well I got him into the 5 gallon with a few ornaments as hiding places.

He's very small. About 2 cm when all is said and done. He had a big dent where his tummy should be. I dunno if he has parasites or worms or anything. He wouldn't take any bloodworms this afternoon, but he just had a few tonight.

I put a few small ramshorns in there with him, which he studied closely and even tried attacking once or twice, but he's really too small to do anything to them atm.

The foam pads I put in the filter are well established from the 10 gallon, and should do the trick.

Very cute little guy. I'll get some pictures and keep you updated.

Sounds like he is going to be in good hands from now on

Well it's been nearly a week, and things seem to be going well.

The little guy is active and curious, and shows no signs of illness or injury. A very lovely young specimen.

Water parameters have been pretty stable. It seems the seeded filter pad is doing it's job. There are trace amounts of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I do daily or twice daily water changes of about 3 gallons at a time.

The first day he wouldn't eat, but by the second and third he was voracious. I feed him a few blood-worms once a day in the morning until he has a round belly. Should I maybe feed him twice a day since he's so little, or is once better to reduce waste for now?

He's so small that he's hard to snap a picture of without a tripod and a better camera, but these 2 turned out pretty good.

I give you... Peabody, the Dwarf Puffer.





Ain't he cute?

Perfect name! I love it!

I saw some dwarves that were less then a quarter inch for sale at a petsmart. I didn't really know if they were old enough to be put into one of my tanks, so I left empty handed.

Oh she's a cutie! I think you did the right thing with the seeded filter media and daily water changes. Good job!

I figured it was a good time for an update.

His tank is setup and decorated completely, and I've managed to snap a few pictures. I'm still learning the camera, so they aren't perfect. I'll try and take some more when I figure out what I'm doing. :p

Nice looking tank. I'm sure Peabody will be very happy. He still looks a bit thin, though. I think you could feed him twice a day until he gets fattened up a bit.